Why Does My Tallow Balm Feel Different in Winter vs Summer? Let’s Talk Climate Sensitivity And Texture

If you’ve ever opened your jar of tallow balm in summer and found it luxuriously soft and creamy, then opened it in winter to find it firmer or a little grainy in spots, you’re not imagining things. That’s just tallow being tallow. It’s completely normal, and it all comes down to its natural climate sensitivity.

Here’s what’s going on.

Tallow Is a Natural Ingredient and Nature Responds to Temperature

Tallow is an animal fat, and like all fats, it’s highly responsive to changes in temperature. Unlike synthetic skincare products that are engineered with stabilizers, thickeners, and emulsifiers to maintain a uniform texture year-round, natural tallow reacts to its environment.

In warm weather, it softens. In cold weather, it firms up. No mystery there, but let’s get into the science.

What Causes That Grainy Texture in Winter?

Graininess in tallow isn’t a sign that something’s gone wrong. It’s just the result of the fatty acids inside it cooling at different rates.

Tallow contains a blend of saturated and monounsaturated fats. When your balm is exposed to cooler temperatures, especially if it cools down too slowly or unevenly those fats can crystallize at different speeds, creating that slightly bumpy, gritty texture. This is especially common if:

• The balm was melted or got too warm, then cooled down too slowly

• The balm cooled unevenly (for example, the outside cooled faster than the inside)

• The jar was exposed to fluctuating temperatures, like being near a window or heater

Grainy spots equal crystallized fatty acids. It’s still safe, still nourishing, and still effective. All you need to do is melt it between your fingers and it’ll smooth right out.

Why Is It So Soft and Creamy in Summer?

In the warmer months, the ambient temperature keeps the tallow (and any added oils or butters) softer and more pliable. If your balm feels like it glides on effortlessly in summer, it’s because it’s already partially melted from the heat around it.

This is also why:

• It’s best to store your tallow in a cool spot in the hotter months

• You might notice a little oil pooling at the top in extreme heat again, totally normal. A quick stir and you’re good to go

What Can You Do?

• If it’s too hard in winter, warm a small amount between your fingertips or let the jar sit in a warm room for a few minutes before use

• If it’s too soft in summer, keep it away from direct sunlight or warm surfaces. A fridge is overkill unless your home is very hot, but a cool pantry or cupboard does the trick

• If it’s grainy, you can gently remelt and re-whip it if you’re picky about texture but honestly, it melts into your skin just the same

Bottom Line: Texture Doesn’t Affect Performance

Your balm might feel different depending on the season, but that has zero impact on its benefits. It’s still packed with vitamins A, D, E, and K, it still deeply nourishes the skin, and it’s still made with the same high-quality ingredients. That texture shift? Just a reminder that you’re using something natural, pure, and untouched by harsh stabilizers or preservatives.

Your balm’s texture tells a story. And that story is: nature doesn’t do “perfectly smooth” all year round, and that’s kind of the point.